Deerhooves
Intrigued by the non-stop goodness of last years' The Runners' Four (which I wrote about back in January and Jay wrote about in October), I decided to go on a journey through the Deerhoof back catalogue. What I found was my new favourite band.
These three songs are from the albums Milkman, Reveille, and Apple O' (in that order). They would make me cry with happiness if I was into doing that sort of thing, so feel free to weep as you listen. You can buy all three albums here. You can also legally download twenty-three MP3s from most of the band's albums at the Puzzling Music Archive.
Deerhoof - Milkman
I think this might qualify as a perfect song. I'm not sure what to say except that this is exactly what guitars are supposed to sound like. The same goes for the drums, bass, keyboards and especially the vocals. Listen closely: it's straight up rock and roll, but without all the boringness and clichés; it's indie music without all the fake emotion, ironic posturing, and cookie cutter instrumentation. And for the sake of this song, I'll admit something else: sometimes I'll post a song that I think is kind of mediocre overall because I think that the band is doing at least one really interesting thing. This song is here because I love every second of it.
Deerhoof - This Magnificent Bird Will Rise
Don't let the robotic intro fool you. This song is what I imagine a summer day rendered entirely in drums would sound like: the sky a giant skin being beaten on by the sun, birds hammering against the wind, scattered clouds of cymbal crashes far off on the horizon. Then the guitars! Like little ecstatic bursts amidst the chaos of cymbals, they have to fight to be heard over the drumming. And the doo and ba and la vocals playing off of the organ! Amazing!
Deerhoof - Apple Bomb
All this rocking needs a counterpoint. Sure, the song starts off kind of meandering and kind of off key. But as the triumphant/melancholy ba's start to come in after the 1:30 mark, it becomes something different altogether, building up towards an epic climax and denouement in the last few minutes.
These three songs are from the albums Milkman, Reveille, and Apple O' (in that order). They would make me cry with happiness if I was into doing that sort of thing, so feel free to weep as you listen. You can buy all three albums here. You can also legally download twenty-three MP3s from most of the band's albums at the Puzzling Music Archive.
Deerhoof - Milkman
I think this might qualify as a perfect song. I'm not sure what to say except that this is exactly what guitars are supposed to sound like. The same goes for the drums, bass, keyboards and especially the vocals. Listen closely: it's straight up rock and roll, but without all the boringness and clichés; it's indie music without all the fake emotion, ironic posturing, and cookie cutter instrumentation. And for the sake of this song, I'll admit something else: sometimes I'll post a song that I think is kind of mediocre overall because I think that the band is doing at least one really interesting thing. This song is here because I love every second of it.
Deerhoof - This Magnificent Bird Will Rise
Don't let the robotic intro fool you. This song is what I imagine a summer day rendered entirely in drums would sound like: the sky a giant skin being beaten on by the sun, birds hammering against the wind, scattered clouds of cymbal crashes far off on the horizon. Then the guitars! Like little ecstatic bursts amidst the chaos of cymbals, they have to fight to be heard over the drumming. And the doo and ba and la vocals playing off of the organ! Amazing!
Deerhoof - Apple Bomb
All this rocking needs a counterpoint. Sure, the song starts off kind of meandering and kind of off key. But as the triumphant/melancholy ba's start to come in after the 1:30 mark, it becomes something different altogether, building up towards an epic climax and denouement in the last few minutes.
posted by ian at 3:29 PM
6 Comments:
very evocative music. i pictured myself hurtling over the white cliffs of dover on a vespa.
That was great, Ian- I feel the same way about 'Milkman', and even though I've listened to Runners Four and Milk Man lots, I never really delved into Reveille and Apple O (but now I desperately want to). Hope you're all doing well-
"Spirit Ditties of No Tone" blows the mind every time. Funny how once you get a little Deerhoof, you need it all? I couldn't get with Apple 'O at first, but when Milk Man hit me, I was gone.
Led Zep for the Beefheart set?
Did you come with me that time we saw dearhoof in Bellingham?
It was pure good. Bunny Bunny Bunny Bunny Bunny (whilst doing this you must make little bunny ears by hooking your index and middle fingers above your ear)
-jay
Love them.
I have about 3 of their releases & Milkman is my fave.
Love your site. (Today was my first visit, via goodhodgkins.com.)
For My 2 cents... "Reveille" is the best. It's what got me into them to begin with... once i saw them live though I was a fan for life.
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